Rail projects approved in China

16th May 2011

The National Development & Reform Commission has approved the proposed 329 km double-track line from Qianjiang in Chongqing province to Zhangjiajie and Changde in Hunan, which is expected to cost 34·8bn yuan. Chongqing Municipal Development & Reform Commission will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Railways to establish a joint venture to undertake the project.

A feasibility study for the 30bn yuan Huaihua – Shaoyang – Hengyang line in Hunan province has also been approved, and detailed design of the 313 km double-track mixed-traffic 200 km/h route has begun.

Construction of the 260 km Hangzhou – Huangshan railway is set to commence this year, with an alignment designed for 200 km/h running; the main traffic is expected to be passengers.

On March 18 the second generation of CRH2 EMUs entered service on the Nanchang – Jiujiang – Wuhan inter-city route. The CRH2179 and CRH2180 units offer improved passenger comfort with private compartments available, with an overall capacity of 600 passengers.